|
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Seares: Who's afraid of Joash Dignos?
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense
Many people are afraid of Joash Dignos and other radio commentators like him.
Public officials, including those who have nothing to hide, fear being criticized on radio.
Private persons who land in the news cringe at being talked about, which invades privacy or sullies reputation.
What makes radio commentators like the dyHP broadcaster a dreaded tribe? They are just like newspaper columnists.
Or maybe not. They are different by the nature of the medium and its uneven sanctions.
Free zone
More immediate and easier to access, be it to listen or to talk, radio is a free zone where licensing and rules at times don’t work.
Also, industry competition has bred the “marketing strategy” espousing slander and vulgarity to get more listeners. And blocktimers pack enough clout to dodge management control.
Freedom is prone to abuse, more so on radio where the speaker can think that what he says is blown away with the wind.
Complain
There are few commentators whose day is not complete without tearing at or murdering a reputation.
But these few give radio a bad name.
KBP can do more than accrediting broadcasters. It can check if licensing is not abused. Managers, aside from fretting over bills, can see that commentators follow broadcasters’ code.
And aggrieved persons can complain: to the commentator, the manager, KBP, or the Press Council.
Griping is better than going to court or, worse, sending out an assassin.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 1, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
